Gators not taking Seminoles lightly

Florida coach Billy Donovan provided a brief history lesson before his team's first road game of the season tonight at Florida State.

Donovan was specifically asked about Florida State's struggles to start the season. The Seminoles (4-3) are coming off back-to-back home losses against Minnesota and Mercer.

“I remember one year, it may have been with (Joakim) Noah and (Al) Horford and those guys, they lost back-to-back games and we went in there and they beat us,” Donovan said. “I don't think that means anything to me at all.”

No. 6 Florida (6-0) isn't about to take FSU lightly. The memories of Florida's 70-66 loss to FSU at the Donald L. Tucker Center in 2006 are still too fresh in Donovan's mind to suggest otherwise.

“We're expecting that Florida State is going to play their best basketball,” Donovan said. “That's what we're expecting, and I don't think our guys are expecting anything less.”

It has been a topsy-turvy season for the Seminoles. FSU lost its season opener at home to South Alabama, but looked terrific in winning back-to-back games against BYU and St. Joseph's in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.

FSU's trademark smothering defense under 11th-year coach Leonard Hamilton has been spotty. The Seminoles are giving up 69.3 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 41.1 percent from the floor.

“It's a rivalry game and they are going to be ready to play no matter what, no matter how many games they've lost before,” Florida forward Will Yeguete said. “They're going to think it's a good win for their resume. So, I think they are going to play harder than any game that they've played before. We just have to make sure we're ready to face their physicality.”

The Gators have managed to play physical enough in winning their first six games by an average margin of 26 points. Florida is plus-11.2 in rebounding margin this season with 25 blocked shots. The Gators have held opponents to 48.5 points per game on 35 percent shooting. In attacking FSU's defense, Yeguete said it will be important to play unselfish.

“We're just going to need to be strong with the ball and make sure we screen, make the extra pass,” Yeguete said. “I think it's going to be huge to be unselfish in this game because they pressure the ball a lot and they gamble a lot. So we're just going to make sure we play as a team.”

Florida could be without starting forward Erik Murphy, who has sat out practices since Friday with a hip injury he suffered against Marquette. If Murphy can't go, center Patric Young will likely return to the starting lineup with Yeguete, Scottie Wilbekin, Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario.

“We've played with guys out, such as Scottie, Casey (Prather),” Rosario said. “This is a major key right now, us not having Murph. But I feel like Will can give us good minutes at that spot, and you know, I feel like everyone is prepared.”

Donovan's message since Florida's 82-49 lopsided win over Marquette is to avoid complacency. In breaking down tape of the game, Donovan said he noticed some breakdowns in transition defense and said the margin of victory would not have been as great had Marquette hit some open shots.

“They need to guard against it,” Donovan said. “When you are walking around and people are telling you how great you are, how good you are, what we did to Wisconsin and Marquette and all of this other stuff, I just tell them there is nothing there that helps them become better players.”